Drill bit



Jan. 1 929.

R. K. BURKE DRILL BIT Filed Jan. 18, 1927 I gwuentoz RALPH/(502K:

Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES RALPH K. BURKE, or LINDSAY, CALIFORNIA.

DRILL BIT.

Appiication filed January 18, 19271 My invention relates to drill bits as used in well drilling operations, and the purpose of my-in vention is the provision of a drill bit particularly adapted for soft formations and which, in operation, is capable of drill ing with greater rapidity than other bits; cleans out the hole rapidly and effectively as it drills; permits the drill pipe to follow as it progresses; can be operated with relatively light stem lines and machinery thereby greatly reducing drilling operation costs; and a bit which is relatively light in weight, easy to sharpen and economical to make in the larger sizes.

I will describe only one form of drill bit embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a. view showing in vertical section one form of drill bit embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a view taken at right angles to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the bit shown in the preceding views;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views, my invention, in its present embodiment, comprises a skeleton frame of elongated form made of suitable metal and consisting of a pair of arms 15 extending inwardly toward each other and connected at their upper ends by means of a head 16 on which latter is formed a tool joint 17. The lower ends of the arms merge into a cutting blade 18 with the latter formed with arcuate shoulders 19 at the opposite ends thereof for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

A tubular body 20 formed of suitable material is secured to the frame, and in the present instance this body is in the form of a sleeve of suflicient diameter to permit of it being extended over the frame and secured by welding and riveting to the arms 15 to occupy the position shown in Figure 1. The upper end of the body 20 is formed with V-shaped recesses 21 at diametrically opposed points and at points at right angles with respect to the arms 15 so as to cooperate with the latter in providing openings to facilitate the discharge of drilled material upwardly from the bit during the drilling op- Serial No. 16-1 900.

erati'on. The lower end of the body is bellshaped, as indicated at 22, the curvature of such end being such as to fit the rounded shoulders 19. With the body applied as described, it will be clear that the cutting blade 18 projects from the bell end 22 of the body and is disposed diametrically of the latter, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

In the operation of the drill bit, the blade in its reciprocating action disintegrates the formation, and the blade and the bell end 22 of the body co-act in perfecting mixing of the formation with the Water supplied to the bit, the mixing taking place both interiorly and eXteriorly of the bit, as it Will be clear that the formation is free to pass upwardly through the bit as well as around the bit. In actual practice, the drill pipe can be lowered within the well as the drilling operation proceeds, the lower end of the drill pipe reposing on the shoulder formed by the bell end of the body. As the pipe follows the bit, the bell-shaped end moves from side to side of the hole, thus making a larger hole than the diameter of the bell-shaped end. As the cutting blade has a. smaller surface striking the formation, it will be manifest that it will penetrate much faster than ordinary bits and thereby secure deeper penetration and faster mixing, which as a result permits more rapid drilling. As the bit is comparatively light in construction, it will be manifest that it can be operated by relatively light stem lines and machinery.

Although I have shown and described only one form of drill bit embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A drill bit comprising a frame, a tubular body secured to and surrounding the frame, said body having a bell-shaped end, and a cutting blade on the frame, having its cutting edge projecting beyond and disposed diametrically of the bell-shaped end, the length of the cutting edge being substantially equal to the diameter of the bell-shaped end.

2. A drill bit comprising an integral skeleton frame having a tool joint at one end and a cutting blade at the other, and a tubular body secured to and surrounding the frame between the joint and blade so that the latter extends beyond the body, the blade end of the body being bell-shaped and the blade extending diametrically of the body end and within the area defined by the latter.

3. A drill bit comprising an integral frame of elongated form including a pair of spaced arnis connected at their upper ends to provide a head adapted to constitute a tool joint for connection to a sucker rod, the lower ends of thearrns being connected and shaped to form a cutting blade, a tubular open ended body secured in surrounding relation to the arms of the frame with the head of the latter projecting from the upper end of the body and the blade projecting from and extending diametrically across the lower end of the body, the lower end of the body being bell-shaped and the len th of the cutting edge of the blade being substantially equal to the diameter of the bell-shaped end, the upper end of the body being formed with t -shaped recesses to facilitate the discharge of drilled material upwardly from the bit.

RALPH K. BURKE. 

